English grammar
Inversion in old letter style: were you here…, had you but seen…, should your mother…; written if… had vs spoken if… would have
Recognise old-fashioned letter English (were you here, had you seen, should your mother…) and use had, not would, after if.
From the scene Were you here…
In short
Old letters drop if and put were, had or should first. In writing, the if-part takes had, not would have.
Your turn
Which one goes with if only you had seen (very old-fashioned)?
Options: should your mother say no, come all the same · had you but seen his face! · were you here, all would be easier
Show answer
if only you had seen (very old-fashioned) → had you but seen his face!
How it works
Letters of that time often dropped if and put had, were or should first.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
"If she (blank) stayed", dear. In a letter, you write "had".
Options: has · had · would have
Show answer
"If she had stayed", dear. In a letter, you write "had".
«Si se hubiera quedado», hijo. En una carta, se escribe «had».
Good to know
Were you here = if you were here, should your mother say no = if your mother says no, and the very old-fashioned had you but seen = if only you had seen.
Good to know
Many people say if she would have stayed in speech, especially in America, but in writing the if-part always takes had: if she had stayed.
if you were here (letter style) were you here, all would be easier
Nuria
Listen: "My dearest Rosario, were you here, all would be so much easier."
Escuchen: "Querida Rosario: si estuvieses aquí, todo sería más fácil."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Listen: "My dearest Rosario, (blank), all would be so much easier."
Options: come all the same · were you here · had you but seen his face
Show answer
Nuria
Listen: "My dearest Rosario, were you here, all would be so much easier."
Escuchen: "Querida Rosario: si estuvieses aquí, todo sería más fácil."
if only you had seen (very old-fashioned) had you but seen his face!
Nuria
"Manolo has asked me to be his wife. Had you but seen his face!"
"Manolo me pidió que fuese su esposa. ¡Si hubieses visto su cara!"
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"Manolo has asked me to be his wife. (blank)!"
Options: Had you but seen his face · Were you here, all would be easier · Should your mother say no
Show answer
Nuria
"Manolo has asked me to be his wife. Had you but seen his face!"
"Manolo me pidió que fuese su esposa. ¡Si hubieses visto su cara!"
if your mother says no (letter style) should your mother say no, come all the same
Nuria
"Should your mother say no, come to my wedding all the same."
"Aunque tu madre te dijese que no, ven a mi boda."
Your turn
What fills the gap?
"(blank), come to my wedding all the same."
Options: All would be easier · Had you but seen his face · Should your mother say no
Show answer
Nuria
"Should your mother say no, come to my wedding all the same."
"Aunque tu madre te dijese que no, ven a mi boda."
heard in speech, wrong in writing if Grandma would have stayed…
Your turn
What goes with if Grandma would have stayed…?
Options: if you were here (letter style) · if only you had seen (very old-fashioned) · heard in speech, wrong in writing
Show answer
if Grandma would have stayed… → heard in speech, wrong in writing
correct in writing if Grandma had stayed, I wouldn't have been born
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| if you were here (letter style) | were you here, all would be easier |
|---|---|
| if only you had seen (very old-fashioned) | had you but seen his face! |
| if your mother says no (letter style) | should your mother say no, come all the same |
| heard in speech, wrong in writing | if Grandma would have stayed… |
| correct in writing | if Grandma had stayed, I wouldn't have been born |
More lines from the story
- Elena"If she had stayed", dear. In a letter, you write "had".«Si se hubiera quedado», hijo. En una carta, se escribe «had».
- ElenaEnglish, dear. Were you here, had you seen... That's how we wrote back then.Inglés, hijo. «Were you here», «had you seen»... Así escribíamos entonces.
- ElenaNothing. Not with "had", not with "would".Nada. Ni con «had» ni con «would».